Schoolhouse Review: A Biblical Approach to Art with See The Light 'Poppy Collage' Art Project DVD

The Poppy Collage DVD is part of a series of other art project lessons that walk students through creating their own works in the style of famous artists. Buy the entire set of DVDs for $99.

I found the video instruction to be enjoyable, informative, and of the perfect length. I think that imitation is the first step in learning everything, so this was a very fun way to learn about art.

It is intended to be used with students who are 10+ years of age, but when my 6-year-old saw the project in action, she asked if she could make her own. She went to town, and I was actually surprised at how easily she picked up on the dexterity needed to pick up the tissue paper pieces with the paintbrush coated in a glue mixture.

Their slogan is “Drawing children to Him”, which I thought was a creative way of expressing their mission of presenting art in a Biblical worldview. Since we operate our homeschool with the focus on Christ, I loved how she pointed everything to God and how it is our Maker who made us creative.

If you do not teach with a Biblical perspective, I believe these DVDs would still provide solid art instruction without overtly offending, as the comments are subtly interjected and spread out throughout the course of the lesson. It is the underlying tone throughout a quality art session that teaches factual history and artistic style.

The only
other things I needed, in addition to the DVD, were a few supplies that I
either had on hand or picked up at a dollar store:

A 14”X14”
sheet white poster board

A flower
with 4 to 6 simple petals

Sheets of
colored tissue paper

Scissors

Newspaper or
old tablecloth to protect table

Scrap
paper

Water

A bowl

Paper plates
to lay out the tissue cut pieces

White
school glue

A pencil

A white
eraser

The DVD I received provided teaching on how to create a poppy collage abstract flower in the style of American artist, Georgia O’Keeffe.
The art lessons come on a DVD that provides four comprehensive lessons, taught by Pat Knepley. The lessons not only provided a clear description of how to create our own project, but also a detailed art history lesson about Georgia O’Keeffe. It also introduced related art elements and principles.

The lessons included on the DVD were as follows:

-1) The Abstracted Flower Drawing

-2) Tissue Paper Collage Technique

-3) Layering Translucent Hues

-4) Final Details to Create Interest

Each of the four lessons last approximately 17 to 22 minutes, for a total of one and a half hours of viewing time. In addition to the viewing time, the instructor recommends allowing three to four hours for actual hands-on creative art work time.

Here’s our finished works of art:

My 6-year-old's final product!

My 10-year-old insisted on adding grass details.

Please read what other Schoolhouse Review Crew members thought of this and other products from See The Light, here, or by clicking on the picture below: